Protocol performance using ACK filtering

Abstract

A method and system are provided for improving performance in a communication system comprising: receiving a plurality of data packets from a transmitter; generating a queue of a plurality of acknowledgements each indicating receipt of one or more of the data packets; and sending only the last acknowledgement in the queue to the transmitter to indicate receipt of all of the data packets for which acknowledgements are queued. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for improving performance in a communications system comprising the steps of: 
 a. receiving a plurality of data packets from a transmitter;    b. generating a queue of a plurality of acknowledgements each indicating receipt of one or more of the data packets; and    c. sending only the last acknowledgement in the queue to the transmitter to indicate receipt of all of the data packets for which acknowledgements are queued.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data packets are transmitted on a downstream channel.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the last acknowledgement is sent on an upstream channel.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communication system is a cable modem system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmitter is a cable modem termination system.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acknowledgements are generated by a cable modem.  
     
     
         7 . A method for improving performance in a communications system comprising the steps of: 
 a. receiving a first data packet from a transmitter;    b. generating an acknowledgement indicating receipt of the data packet;    c. sending a request to send the acknowledgment to the transmitter of the data packet;    d. receiving one or more additional data packets from the transmitter;    e. generating one or more additional acknowledgments indicating receipt of the additional data packets;    f. receiving a grant from the transmitter in response to the request; and    g. sending only the last acknowledgement generated to indicate receipt of all of the data packets for which acknowledgements were generated.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the data packets are transmitted on a downstream channel.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the last acknowledgement is sent on an upstream channel.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the communication system is a cable modem system.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the transmitter is a cable modem termination system.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the acknowledgements are generated by a cable modem.  
     
     
         13 . A method for improving performance in a communications system comprising the steps of: 
 a. receiving one or more first data packets from a transmitter;    b. generating a first acknowledgement indicating receipt of the first data packets;    c. delaying transmission of the first acknowledgement to the transmitter for a predetermined delay time;    d. generating a second acknowledgement if one or more second data packets are received during the delay time;    e. sending the first acknowledgement to the transmitter when or after the delay time expires if no second acknowledgement has been generated; and    f. sending the second acknowledgement and discarding the first acknowledgement if the second acknowledgement is generated before the delay time expires.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the data packets are transmitted on a downstream channel.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the acknowledgements are sent on an upstream channel.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the communication system is a cable modem system.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the transmitter is a cable modem termination system.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the acknowledgements are generated by a cable modem.